Guidance

LA Welfare Direct lite 4/2022

Updated 12 December 2022

Contact

If you have queries about the:

• technical content of this bulletin then contact details are given at the end of each article
• general content and distribution of this bulletin, contact lawelfare.correspondence@dwp.gov.uk

Who should read

All Housing Benefit staff

Action

For information

Update: Housing Benefit Matching Service Jobseekers Allowance address rule

1. The Local Authority Partnership Engagement and Delivery (LA-PED) division is continually improving the suite of Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) rules to provide quality referrals and to reduce nugatory referrals issued to local authorities (LAs).

2. Over the last 12 months LA-PED has worked closely with several LAs to identify both issues and improvements to rule HBJS055.

3. This rule identifies HB claimants who are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and have failed to notify the LA of a change of address.

4. Investigations have revealed that some referrals were being made where the address identified for Jobseekers Allowance was no longer the claimant’s current address and the claimant’s address held by the LA was in fact the correct one. Amendments have been made to exclude these nugatory referrals.

5. The enhanced referrals will be available to LAs from the week commencing 18 April 2022 and referrals should now only include current addresses held on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Jobseekers Allowance Payments system.

6. The HBMS rules guidance (which can be found on Glasscubes) will be updated to reflect the amendments and LA-PED would like to take this opportunity to thank those LAs who participated in the consultation process.

7. If you have any questions regarding the content of this article, contact lawelfare.datamatching@dwp.gov.uk

Secondment opportunities in Housing Policy Division

8. There is an exciting opportunity for 2 LA secondees to join the Housing Policy Division (HPD). HPD is responsible for housing support for renters and homeowners through the maintenance and development of policy for HB, housing support within Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest. This accounts for almost £30 billion of government spending per year.

9. Its remit is unique amongst the income-related benefits in that it supports recipients who are in work as well as those who are out of work; Working Age as well as pensioners.

10. The broad work of the division involves developing, designing and implementing new policy initiatives as well as maintaining existing policies and providing support to DWP ministers on these areas.

11. There are 2 roles for housing policy officers in the division:

The supported housing/temporary accommodation team

12. Supported housing provides a vital service for some of the most vulnerable people in society; providing care, support or supervision to help them live as independently as possible in the community. For those on low incomes, financial support with housing costs can be met through HB. The team are responsible for developing future policy for HB in relation to supported housing and temporary accommodation as well as maintaining existing policies.

13. The role will involve working collaboratively with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, wider government, LAs and supported housing providers to develop and impact oversight policy measures.

The Housing Support and Strategy team

14. The team are responsible for maintaining oversight of Housing Support Strategy across the wider Housing Policy team and more widely across DWP and other government departments. The team also has specific policy responsibility for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) that provide critical support to vulnerable claimants who need help with their housing costs.

15. The team are looking for a someone to join the team to lead on impacting and developing options for any enhancement to the DHP scheme.

16. Both roles will give excellent exposure to high-profile policy making and contact with senior civil servants and ministers at both DWP and across other government departments. It involves working at pace and will give the secondee the opportunity to help formulate policy and shape future housing strategy.

17. If you would like more information on the posts contact sarah.turner1@dwp.gov.uk for the supported housing/temporary accommodation team role and lavinia.browne@dwp.gov.uk for the housing support and strategy team position.

Personal requirements

18. Candidates should possess the following:

• strong communication, including written and verbal, and influencing skills
• experience of building positive working relationships with a range of colleagues and stakeholders - including senior managers
• knowledge of HB and/or supported housing/Discretionary Housing payments is essential - must also have an interest in housing
• able to work under pressure and rapidly develop new skills, knowledge and understanding to deliver results in a complex environment
• able to work independently with enthusiasm and creativity and be self-motivated

19. The secondment is offered for an initial period of 12 months which will be extended by a further 12 months if all parties (the individual, their LA and DWP) are happy to do so. This is a hybrid working role. The individual will work from home up to 80% of time with a minimum of 20% of time spent in one of our policy ‘hubs’ (Sheffield, Leeds, London). If you have any questions about policy hubs and where you may be based, please contact the post holder.

20. Neither travelling expenses nor a move at public expense can be considered.

21. If you are keen to undertake this role and are at SO1/SO2/PO1/PO2 (roughly equates to Civil Service HEO/SEO grades) please:

• check with your LA that you could be released, and then
• send your CV and/or express your interest.

Please note, only one application is required for both roles but if you have a preference of roles please make that clear when you send your CV and/or expression of interest to the email addresses given above, by 5pm on 16 May 2022.